The Peaceful Pill Handbook Reviews

[Osman Briseno]

Thebook is primarily intended for seniors, people who are seriously ill, and their families and friends. It is also a resource guide for those working in public health and elderly care. The book rates more than a dozen methods of euthanasia according to reliability and peacefulness scales.

Strategies covered by the books include: the use of gases such as nitrogen, poisons such as carbon monoxide, prescription drugs such as insulin and the opiates, and former prescription drugs such as the barbiturates.[2] The book details lawful means of obtaining and administering the drugs, and other peripheral issues such as drug storage, shelf life and disposal. The Swiss assisted suicide services are also covered in detail, as are issues such as the writing of wills, advance directives, and issues of determining decision-making capacity.

One of the more controversial aspects of the book is its coverage of the Internet as a source of drugs. To this end, the authors publish a regular neighbourhood watch that warns about Internet scammers and fraudulent websites.

While the book was initially granted an 18+ rating in Australia, this was overturned on appeal from the Australian Attorney-General. In early 2007, the publication was refused classification (RC) by the Classification Board.[3] In 2009, the Australian government included the handbook website in its internet filtering plan known as the Clean Feed.[4]

In 2008, the Society for Promotion of Community Standards objected to the book's publication. This led to its banning in New Zealand on the grounds that it was an objectionable publication.[5] A short time later, the book was republished in redacted form and is available only if sealed, and an indication of the censorship classification is displayed.[6][7]

In December 2007, a Perth woman called Erin Berg contacted Exit International and said that she wished to attend one of their workshops. After hearing more of her details, they explained that she did not fit their criteria and were unable to help.

It is understood the Attorney-General was reacting to newspaper reports that a Perth mother, Erin Berg, who committed suicide in May after travelling to Mexico, had read the book, which describes euthanasia drugs sold overseas.

The chairman of the Classification Board, Donald McDonald, contacted Penguin Australia earlier this month and asked the publisher to submit a copy of the book that was written by Dr Nitschke and his partner Fiona Stuart.

Dr Nitschke, who was on his way back to Australia from Britain after establishing an on-line site for his controversial THE PEACEFUL PILL HANDBOOK, said Mr McClelland was reacting to pressure from what he claimed was a campaign being organised by the family of Mrs Berg.

Dr Nitschke said the book was largely a discussion of the issue and had been used in school curriculum. Penguin Australia publishing director Robert Sessions said any ban on the book could cause significant disruption.

September 21, 2009

The Director has the power to call in publications for classification where reasonable grounds exist to believe that an unclassified publication is a submittable publication, being published in an Australian jurisdiction. I called in the publications that were unclassified. If a distributor did not comply with a call in notice, the Department was asked to advise law enforcement agencies.

To ensure that readers know fully where they stand and that responsibility for actions can be taken, THE PEACEFUL PILL HANDBOOK also provides a thorough outline of the legal aspects of various approaches. The over-arching paradigm of the book is to ensure the seriously ill and the elderly maintain their respect, dignity and sense of control in EOL decision-making.

To date, Exit knows of no one who has not received their order because of action by Australian Customs. Rather, the first print run has already sold out. Exit Australia has been informed that a second print run is currently under way.

So, if you have ordered the Handbook and are awaiting delivery take heart. It is likely you will receive your book. However, if anyone does receive notice from Customs that their delivery has been seized, please notify the Exit office immediately. Exit believes it is our fundamental right to access information. We will not allow the Government, via its insidious legislative arm, to dictate to us.

October 2006

Exit International was delighted and honoured to have renowned FINAL EXIT author and VE activist Derek Humphry launch THE PEACEFUL PILL HANDBOOK at the World Federation Society conference in Toronto in Canada in September.

The event was attended by around 50 people and generated significant book sales at the conference. The launch was covered by CTV (Canadian TV), CBC (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation), and The Globe and Mail and La Presse newspapers.

Despite the seizure of the book by Australian Customs, several inspection copies were available and South Australian MP Hon Sandra Kanck launched the book, arguing that Australians have a right to free speech.

December 2006

Upon legal advice from the Public Interest Advocacy Centre in Sydney, Exit has now submitted THE PEACEFUL PILL HANDBOOK to the Office of Film and Literature Classification for classification.

As the director of Exit, I am well aware of the ambitious nature of the DIY (Do It Yourself) Peanut agenda. There were considerable setbacks to the project along the way; setbacks that no one could have foreseen. However, it seems now that perseverance and considerable ingenuity, has led the group to success.

(4) Is it the case that the books will be destroyed in 21 days if no appeal is made; if so: (a) what is the reason for this timeframe; and (b) can an extension be applied for, if this proves too short a time period in which to prepare an appeal.

(1) On 19 September 2006 Customs seized forty-five (45) books titled THE PEACEFUL PILL HANDBOOK authored by Dr Phillip Nitschke and Dr Fiona Stewart. The handbooks were in the possession of a passenger arriving at Brisbane International Airport.

(2) Customs examined the handbooks and considered they breached Regulation 3AA of the Customs (Prohibited Imports) Regulations 1956. Regulation 3AA prohibits the import of devices and documents relating to suicide. The following is an extract from the regulations;

(3) The handbooks were seized pursuant to subsection 3AA(2)(c) as they are considered to instruct a person on how to commit suicide using a suicide device. The provisions under the Customs Act 1901 that govern the seizure process for prohibited imports, also provide an opportunity for the owner to obtain an independent assessment of the goods before a magistrate, should the owner dispute Customs assessment. Since the matter is yet to be finalised between Customs and the owner it would be inappropriate for me to provide further comment on the specific details of this matter at this time.

The book was recently launched by best selling author Derek Humphry at the World Federation conference in Toronto in Sept 2006. The book has sold extremely well and is already into its third print run.

December 22, 2006

Dr Nitschke had the first 45 copies of the book printed in the US but they were seized at Brisbane airport under Customs regulations that make documents that instruct in or incite suicide prohibited imports.

The decision to allow the book to be sold under the category-one classification was made despite objections of some board members who believed it should be banned under the anti-suicide-promotion laws.

January 12, 2007

Attorney-General Philip Ruddock has today asked the Classification Review Board to review the classification of THE PEACEFUL PILL HANDBOOK, a publication which provides information on assisted suicide and voluntary euthanasia.

January 16, 2007

The Classification Review Board has received applications to review the classification for the book entitled THE PEACEFUL PILL HANDBOOK, written by Dr Philip Nitschke and Dr Fiona Stewart.

The full Board of the Classification Review Board will convene to consider this item on Wednesday 7 February 2007. In determining the classification of this material, the Review Board will ensure that a range of viewpoints are considered.

The review is in response to an application from the Australian Attorney-General. Under the Commonwealth Classification (Publications, Films and Computer Games) Act 1995, the Attorney-General may make an application for a decision at any time.

The Classification Review Board is an independent merits review body. Meeting in camera, it makes a fresh classification decision upon receipt of an application for review. The Classification Review Board decision takes the place of the original decision made by the Classification Board.

Family First is pleased the federal government is taking action to ban a book that gives people with suicidal thoughts the information to end their lives. That is not the help they need. They do not need lethal help; they need life-saving assistance. Books promoting terrorism are banned or restricted in Australia, so it is quite reasonable to ban books that promote terminating life.

When we think of the tragedy of suicide, we often think of teenagers and older Australians who are ill. We think of teenagers facing the difficulties of adolescence and we mourn their suicides because of all the promise their young lives held. We think of older Australians who are ill, and perhaps this also prompts us to think about our own lives and what lies ahead.

Suicide is tragic enough, but there are also all the people who have made an unsuccessful suicide attempt. If they get hold of this book, there may not be so many who are unsuccessful. There are a range of government programs to reduce the road toll and to reduce the suicide rate, and Family First applauds them all; yet here we have a medical practitioner who has published a book on how to end your life rather than save it.

One of the main factors experts highlight to reduce the suicide toll is restricting access to the means of suicide. If you want to reduce the suicide toll, you have to make it harder for people to commit suicide, not easier. That means making sure suicide promoters like Philip Nitschke do not have a chance to incite vulnerable people to suicide.

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